Fabio Capello likely to end David James's England career as Hungary friendly looms

David James will become the biggest casualty of England's post-World Cup era
when the squad is named on Saturday for next week's friendly against Hungary
at Wembley.

New beginning: But England manager Fabio Capello is unlikely to give David James another call-up now he has decided to play in Championship with Bristol CityPhoto: GETTY IMAGES

By John Ley

6:45AM BST 05 Aug 2010

Manager Fabio Capello is expected to make a raft of changes following the criticism about England’s poor performance in South Africa, when they were eliminated in the last 16.

James, 40 last Sunday, has already turned his back on the Premier League by signing for Championship side Bristol City. Now Capello is expected to end his 13-year 53-cap England career and replace him with Birmingham City’s Ben Foster.

Arsenal youngsters Jack Wilshere and Kieran Gibbs are also likely to face Hungary on Wednesday. Club-mate Theo Walcott, controversially omitted from Capello’s final World Cup squad, could be given a call-up too along with Manchester City’s Adam Johnson. There is a strong chance that striker Bobby Zamora will be rewarded for an outstanding season with Fulham.

James, who lives in the West Country, was keen not to uproot his family after leaving Portsmouth. He rejected interest from Sunderland for a far less lucrative deal with Bristol City and the decision to play in the Championship is likely to have ended any lingering chance of him extending his England career.

James made his international debut under Glenn Hoddle in a friendly against Mexico in March 1997 and, after serving as understudy to David Seaman, he became the first choice in 2003.

In February 2008, James was selected as goalkeeper for Capello’s first match in charge, a friendly against Switzerland. It was his first start for England since the friendly with Colombia in May 2005.

Foster, 27, has featured before under Capello, and will be guaranteed first-team Premier League football on a regular basis after leaving Manchester United to replace Hart at Birmingham. Hart has returned to Manchester City following a successful spell on loan at St Andrew’s.

Foster has four caps and after a two-year absence from the England fold, he was selected by Capello to face Slovakia following his performance in the 2009 League Cup final for United when he secured the trophy with his saves in a penalty shoot-out against Tottenham.

Emile Heskey will be dropped from Capello’s squad after he announced his retirement from international football, while Liverpool’s Jamie Carragher, who came out of retirement for the World Cup, and Tottenham’s Ledley King are also expected to be left out.

With little time to prepare for the friendly, Capello is keen to blood youngsters and is therefore expected to give Walcott a chance.

An indication that there might be new faces in the England set-up came with news that Wilshere and Gibbs were yesterday left out of the England Under-21 squad for the game against Uzbekistan at Bristol City’s Ashton Gate on Aug 10.

Full-back Gibbs broke his foot last season and missed half of Arsenal’s campaign.

Midfielder Wilshere impressed during a loan spell at Bolton last season, but he has yet to start in the Premier League for Arsenal.

Injuries and match fitness, which all come into consideration so early in the season, will dictate Capello’s final decision with the manager awaiting any news from a busy friendly programme.

Other players who could come into the reckoning include Tottenham defender Michael Dawson, who was called into England’s World Cup squad to replace the injured Rio Ferdinand, but did not feature.

Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor is also under consideration by Capello, who faces the difficult task of convincing the England public that he has players capable of achieving success ahead of a problematic European Championship qualifying programme, which includes games against Bulgaria, Switzerland and Wales.

Stuart Pearce has called up four uncapped players for the Under-21s game at Ashton Gate: Phil Jones, Martin Kelly, Jordan Henderson and Marc Albrighton have all been selected for the first time.

Endangered species : The England players sweating on their international futures.